Day 5 - Byproducts of Knowing God

[twc_admin]

In the final day (Day 5) of Week 3, the author lists a few byproducts of knowing God. He includes:

1. Character development
2. Freedom from intimidation
3. Compassion

Reading these things should stir our hunger for knowing God. I want to be His friend - and not just His friend, I want to be his CLOSE friend.

What are some other byproducts of "knowing God" that you've experienced?

What has God spoken to you this week as we studied about "The God We Worship"?

[MandoRon]

I was convicted about my discontent this morning.

Philippians 4:11 says "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." I've only ever tried to apply that to my non-church life - finances, home, family, job, etc...

But Dwayne Moore points out on the top of page 53 that this applies to ministry as well. That never occurred to me before. I serve in the band at my church and on the audio team. I waste a lot of time and energy being discontent about lack of equipment, lack of planning, lack of leadership, lack of communication, etc... and I forget (or miss completely) what we do have an abundance of.

If I were to spend more time focusing on knowing God and on why I'm serving, then I would experience complete satisfaction.

It's not about how easy it is for me and the other volunteers, it's about knowing God and making Him known.

[Wannabe a Worshiper]

Before I comment on today's great lesson, I need to say something.
I have written a lot about who I was on these pages. Who I WAS.
I'm through with that, Lord willing. From now on I will focus on who I am becoming, what God is making out of me; no more looking back and feeling sorry for myself.
A man once told Jesus, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family." Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:61,62)

I have put my hand to the plow, so I must no longer keep looking back.

We were asked to write a prayer of thanksgiving about one or two of the beautiful benefits we receive from our relationship with God.

God, I want to thank you that as I spend time with you, getting to know you better, falling in love with you, becoming your friend, your attributes will "rub off" on me, and I will begin to think, act, and talk like you. This is an amazing, freeing, encouraging truth for me to grasp. Thank you, thank you.

And how wonderful to know that as I become more like you, the world, and my past, will lose its grip on me. As I learn more about who you are, I will recognize what is false, because it doesn't look like You.
I feel like shouting at the top of my lungs about how thrilled I am that you ARE changing me, you are making me that new creation you said I would become. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

In my private worship, one of the songs I am singing daily is "In Christ Alone," a powerful hymn from a few years back. It says so beautifully what the power of Christ has accomplished, and when I sing it, I know and rejoice that he is accomplishing his work in me.

[Maggievt]

The phrase that jumped out at me today was "All of these things can be avoided if we come to the right table to be filled." I felt conviction on that one - as to me it means that every time I feel that discontent or have financial worries that I nurse or any of the other things that turn my eyes from God, I am at the wrong table! I think that hits me especially as I have been preparing to offer the song 'Carried to the Table' by Leeland - inspired by the story of Mephibosheth.
How many times HAVE I been at the wrong table? and all the time, He was inviting me to His. Thank GOODNESS for the benefit I have gained of seeing this far sooner than I used to; for the benefit of a softer heart than I used to have; and for the satisfaction that I feel so much more now, just knowing I am Yours.
Maggie

[ErikaMichelle]

Originally Posted by Wannabe a Worshiper

I have written a lot about who I was on these pages. Who I WAS.
I'm through with that, Lord willing. From now on I will focus on who I am becoming, what God is making out of me; no more looking back and feeling sorry for myself.

HALLULUJAH!!! Wannabe. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus. You are Chosen for a special purpose. You are a child of the Most High God!!!

This week's study on who God is was so powerful. Every aspect taught me and revealed to me something new about the King I love. Today, Phillipeans 4:10-13 hit home as it always does when I read it. "Whatever state I am in, I WILL LEARN to be CONTENT!!!!". Oh how this speaks to me and how every day I am living this more and more.

A quick story - 10 years ago, my father laid down his church where I started leading worship and running the music ministries. It was hard, but it was God. We moved to a HUGE church and although I lead worship in the women's ministry, was not part of the regular Sunday teams. It was SO difficult for me to sit in services, as I imagine it is for any one of us who lead regularly. You just can't be a congregant any more.

Well, after feeling rejected and after my season of sadness for not being used, the Lord spoke to me and said "Be Content! Learn all you can from observing this ministry so you can take what you've learned to the next road I will lead you on."

That is just what I did. I learned to be content where I was. I learned all that I could have learned while sitting and resting on the Father. His plan is so much greater than any that we could dream up. True Satisfaction is in Him and Him alone!!!

[Wrapped in Jesus Love!]

Today's lessons tells us that getting to know God allows us to experience several benefits.

We build up our character - Colossians 3:2 - "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." God has great things in store for us, blessings to pour upon us, and he is preparing a place for us. We need to maintain our focus on him. Living in this world, it becomes a difficult task at times. It's easy to follow the crowd, live the earthly life, do what feels good, etc., but we are reminded in this verse that we are to focus on the things above. If we can't do this on our own, we need to ask God for help, and receive help and support from other Christians. As it says in the Pure Praise book - If we focus on the world or other individuals, we'll become like them - if we focus on God, we'll become like him.

2 Corinthians 3:18 - "Gaze on him and be transformed". I want to be transformed into his likeness. I like the sentence on page 52 that says: "Find me a worshipper of God, and I will show you a stable man with his mind in control, ready to meet the present hour with refreshment from above." God will help us to have a stable mind even through times of trial if we allow him to carry the load. However, much too often we try to carry the load ourselves.

We can have freedom from initimidation. We need to have strong roots in God. That is the only way we can keep from falling in our Christian walk. Did you ever see how deep tree roots are. As a child, I remember my father trying to pull a tree stump out of the ground. The roots were very deep and the tree stump could not be moved. That is how we need to be - roots planted deep and unmovable.

We build up our level of compassion. When we walk with God, our level of compassion builds naturally. It's not something we have to study or try to do with difficulty. When we know God and have a relationship where we rely on him for everything, we become more like him.

We can have TRUE satisfaction. True satisfaction - doesn't that sound wonderful! So many times in my life I haven't been satisfied. But the more I learn and know about God, the more satisfied I have become. I still have times when I am not satisfied about some things, but as I know him more, the unsatisfied times become less. It is such a feeling of relief when I become satisfied about something. Now I read this - TRUE SATISFACTION - makes it sound even more perfect! We need to learn to base our contentment on God instead on the earthly things of the world.

God, I thank you for the benefits that you share with me. Help me to keep my roots deeply planted in you and always keep my focus on you. Thank you for allowing me to find true satisfaction in you. I want to continue to know you more and more every day.

[RuthABraun]

The author's list of benefits from knowing God was right on, but the one that struck me the most was freedom from intimidation. Most of the intimidation I experience comes from within, especially now as I am taking on even more of the leadership of our worship teams. I keep thinking that I am not qualified or skilled or talented enough to do what needs to be done, which all have some truth to them. The enemy, of course, specializes in putting his own spin on things to bring spiritual defeat. God being the faithful Shepherd, showed me a scripture from 2 Cor 3:5 this week -- "not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God." Note to self: remember Who called you to this work, how much of it depends on you and how much of it is perfected by that One. Self, all you have to do is empty out so He can fill up so you can pour out. Do what you do with the confidence that God has chosen the way in which He wants you to worship Him and that nothing else will do.

[Wannabe a Worshiper]

It is Saturday aftrenoon. I am back from the funeral of a relative. There was a scripture read, which spoke deeply to my soul, which I want to share with all of you. This is what God is saying to me, where I am right now.

Isaiah 12

In [this] day you will say:
"I will praise you, O Lord.
Although you were angry with me,
your anger has turned away
and you have comforted me.

Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation."

With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.

In [this] day you will say:
"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done,
and proclaim that his name is exalted.

Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;
let this be known to all the world.

Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
for great is the holy one of Israel among you."

One of the preachers said it was no accident we were there today. I know I was there, among other reasons, so I would hear the word of the Lord to me.

[Rogenia]

“Submit to God and be at peace with Him; in this way prosperity will come to you.” Job 22:21) in knowing God and developing a personal relationship with him, I have received so many of the by products. The more I hear, obey and do my best to live out His Word, the more benefits I get. The most value blessing that I have received is entrance into the gate of heaven.

Life - he has changed me so much. I am not the person that I want to be; but I am not the person that I use to be. Now, I get to share the same hatred that God has for sin; and do my best to live and be holy, because God is holy. God has enriched my life tremendously; I am not an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ to the throne of grace. As I get to know God more, I am able to increases in His gifts, His service, His house, but most of all, in Him; Prayer has been another by product for me. It is the greatest privilege that I have encountered, because I have the privilege of knowing that God does answer prayer.

Father God, I give you the entire honor and all the praises that you so richly deserved. Lord, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to stay connected to you. Lord, I love you and I trust you with my life. Thank you for listening to me and thank you for giving me an ear to hear you. I thank you for “food for thought so that I can grow.” Sometimes, I obey and sometimes I don’t. I thank you for rebuking me and spanking me; more so for being gentle when you do it. You are my best friend and I thank you today for the strength to go on in my time of need. I thank you for the courage to stand. Lord I thank you today for allowing me to improve my relationship with you. Amen.